On This Day: 20 Apr

Space Aces! Comic Book Heroes from the Forties and Fifties! by Denis Gifford (1992)
Super Duper Supermen! Comic Book Heroes from the Forties and Fifties! by Denis Gifford (1992)

Births:

Rudolph Ackermann (1764); Herbert Foxwell (1890); Giorgio Olivetti (1908); Terry Maloney (1917); John McNamara (1918); Carole E. Barrowman (1959); Igor Goldkind (1960); Asia Alfasi (1984)

Deaths:

Robert Seymour (1836); Will Spencer (2002)

Notable Events:

The fourth Shrewsbury International Cartoon Festival began in 2007.
The BBC 4 radio series The Reunion, broadcast in 2008, celebrated D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd. comics by asking editors, writers and artists to talk about their work. Contributors included Walter Fearn, Jim Petrie, Bill Ritchie and Dave Torrie, with archive recordings of Leo Baxenedale, Tony Robinson, Michael Rosen, A.N. Wilson and Jacqueline Wilson, among others.

On This Day: 16 Mar

Fury (Marvel) #01
Thundercats (Marvel Comics Ltd.) #01 (21 Mar 1987)
Total Carnage (Dark Horse Comics International) #01 (Apr 1993)

Now! (Fleetway) #01 (1994)

The Batman Movie Sticker Album (Merlin Publishing Limited; 1990)

First Appearances:


Tao de Moto in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 723 (23 Mar 1991).

Births:


Roy Ullyett (Berryman; 1914); G. Freeman Allen (1922); Gino D'Antonio (1927); Chris Foss (1946)

Deaths:


H.G. Hine (1895); Tom Browne (1910); Ian Chisholm (1981); Marcus Morris (1989); Terry Maloney (2008); Steve Moore (2014)

Notable Events:


The Gambols newspaper strip began in The Daily Express in 1950.
Bryan Talbot signed copies of Luther Arkwright and Nemesis Book 6 as part of his Luther Arkwright UK Tour '88 at Exeter University Comics Group, Devonshire House in 1988. Signing appearances continued over the next few weeks at locations across the Britain.
The Comic Relief Charity Pool Championship took place in the Edinburgh Castle public house, in Camden, in 1991. Creators and representatives from Fleetway Publications, Marvel Comics and Stateside Comics PLC took part, with Fleetway winning 12 games and the Championship, raising over £600 in sponsorship for Comic Relief. The teams for Deadline, John Brown Publishing and Titan bowed out in the face of such strong opposition.
Now! replaced Look-In as IPC's teen title in 1994, though it was a title which never quite worked...
Striker newspaper strip became the first newspaper strip to use 3D software in its creation in 1998.
BBC Radio broadcast the first of the six–part Neverwhere adaptation in 2013.

The Dr Who Annual [1966]

[Sep 1965] Annual. Original price 9/6.
pages. Full colour contents.
World Distributors (Manchester) Limited.

Based on the BBC television series starring William Hartnell.

Cover painting by Walt Howarth (uncredited).

Contents:

 2 UNTITLED endpaper; illustrated by Walt Howarth (uncredited).

 4 Indicia

 5 The Dr Who Annual title page; illustrated by Walt Howarth (uncredited).

 6 Contents illustrated by Walt Howarth (uncredited).

 7 The Lair of the Zarbi Supremo text story by David Whitaker (uncredited); illustrated by Walt Howarth (uncredited).

22 Who is Dr Who? text feature by David Whitaker (uncredited); illustrated by Walt Howarth (uncredited).

24 The Sons of the Crab text story by David Whitaker (uncredited); illustrated by Walt Howarth (uncredited).

37 The Lost Ones text story by David Whitaker (uncredited); illustrated by Walt Howarth (uncredited).

50 Journey Back to Earth board game; illustrated by Walt Howarth (uncredited).

52 The Equations of Dr Who text feature by David Whitaker (uncredited); illustrated by Walt Howarth (uncredited).

54 The Monsters from Earth text story by David Whitaker (uncredited); illustrated by Walt Howarth (uncredited).

67 Peril in Mechanistria text story by David Whitaker (uncredited); illustrated by Walt Howarth (uncredited).

81 The Fish Men of Kandalinga text story by David Whitaker (uncredited); illustrated by Walt Howarth (uncredited).

94 UNTITLED endpaper; illustrated by Walt Howarth (uncredited).

The Dr Who Annual is a different experience than anything modern readers might be used to, with the title the prime indicator that details might not be observed in translating the character to the page. Howarth's take on the first Doctor is, however, a treat to behold, commanding attention against a desolate alien landscape. The contents, however, are far from what viewers would have been expecting - which might, in retrospect, not be entirely disappointing. Those predisposed to strong continuity are likely to get a nosebleed from the annual, but approached in the proper frame of mind it is a very entertaining read.

There is a strong sense of surreality to the cover, with curious aliens sharing the cover in an attempt to sell the SF angle to readers who might be unfamiliar with the television series, though the effect merely emphasises a separation from its established history. Maybe there's a convention on... Other explanations for so many species gathering here may apply.

I've never been entirely sold on the endpaper, with its jauntily-angled TARDIS, and a forties-style space-station hanging in the air - it is both too generic, and too specific, to convince as an image from the series, as if the Doctor and the TARDIS had been placed on a preexisting background.

Despite the beautiful lettering at the top of the page, the contents page illustration is, simply put, awful. The image isn't of recognisable aliens, and their gape-mouthed appearance makes the scene more comedic than dramatic. Owing more to The Outer Limits than anything, its one saving grace is the expert manner in which it draws the eye to the beginning of the first text story. Subtle it is not, yet there is great skill behind the image.

The shock of hearing the voice was so great that Dr Who had barely time to complete the materialisation process. But old habit was strong, and smoothly and efficiently the Tardis slid in through the transdimensional flux and fitted its rearranged atoms into the new sphere. By all the doctor's co-ordinates and calculations this world should be the planet Vortis but just where on the planet, or when in the time-scale of that world, he could not as yet know. He drove home the last lever and, with hands on the edges of the control panel, panted with excitement. The voice through his radio had been talking in modern English!

His name may not be right, the TARDIS isn't treated as an acronym, and - because it is so apparent here - the first Doctor panting with excitement is so out of character everything which follows is cast into a strange light. Clad in an Atmospheric Density Jacket, the Doctor sets out to investigate where (and when) he has landed. Finally locating the source of the message - a recording from a crashed ship, Solar Queen, the only inhabitants being a young boy named Gordon Hamilton and his injured, and comatose, father. Convincing the boy to help his fetch the other survivors - now missing - the Doctor and Gordon explore the Zarbi dwellings...

The robot Zarbi suits are a nice touch, although the Doctor's violent solution to the problems he faces is wildly out of character. Neither The Lair of the Zarbi Supremo or The Sons of the Crab, the next story, have the tone and character quite right. Trapped by alien scientists, the Doctor is subjected to a variety of tests, and faces being dissected. An entire planet of shape-shifters, desperate to discover a cure for their "affliction" is a wonderful conceit, and the sustained conversation between the Doctor and Formal gives some idea of what it must be like to live on such a planet.

The strong horror theme which arrives naturally from this set-up, and which is nudged slightly to the forefront, is a different (though not unwelcome) genre to the Doctor's normal adventures. As a story which would have been impossible to film in the mid-sixties, the appeal of this story is obvious. The Yend are one of the most imaginative species created for the annuals, and their plight lends events a rather downbeat tone.

Despite having the whole of time and space to play with, the Doctor finds himself on Vortis, apparently for the first time. Timey-wimey stuff, indeed. The absence of his companions throughout the annual, which is most noticeable whenever the Doctor is required to rescue himself, is one of the problems, taking away the ability to discuss science, history, and other subjects. Without this tether to the series emphasis on intelligent and reasoned exploration of the universe, there isn't the same educational undercurrent which the early stories did so well.

Once again the story concludes with multiple deaths.

Peril in Mechanistria stands as the most intriguing story, detailing a world run by machines - not just any machines, but ones which utilise human brains in their construction. Presaging themes which would be dealt with by the Cybermen, this is a wonderful glimpse into a more nightmarish version of what would appear on the screen. Things are, of course, kept from becoming too scary for younger readers, and the conclusion has a ray of hope which is often absent in the appearance of bio-mechanical integration throughout the series.

An odd, though fascinating, insight into how the series was perceived in the early years.

Doctor Who Annual

[1967]

Compact Annual [1964]

[1963] Annual. Original price
112 pages. B&W contents.
World Distributors (Manchester) Limited.

Based on the BBC television series by Hazel Adair and Peter Ling.

Cover photographs by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

Contents:

  2 UNTITLED endpaper; illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited), photographs by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

  4 Indicia

  5 Compact Annual title page.

  6 Contents

  7 Foreword by Donald Wilson, head of Serials, Drama, Television.

  9 Blue Skies and Deep Waters text story by Hazel Adair and Peter Ling; illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 19 How it All Began text feature by UNKNOWN (uncredited); photographs by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 25 At Home With the Editor text feature by UNKNOWN (uncredited); photographs by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 31 A Bit of a Dance text story by Hazel Adair and Peter Ling; illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 41 The Southend Story text feature by UNKNOWN (uncredited); photographs by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 47 Roming Around text feature by UNKNOWN (uncredited); photographs by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 51 These Are Their Lives text feature by UNKNOWN (uncredited); photographs by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 63 Ask Alison Morley text story by Hazel Adair and Peter Ling; illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 73 Fact and Fiction About Fashion text feature by Olive Harris; photographs by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 79 The Correspondence Trick text story by Hazel Adair and Peter Ling; illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 88 Compact Hits text feature by UNKNOWN (uncredited); photographs by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 92 True or False? text feature by UNKNOWN (uncredited); photographs by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 97 The Night of the Fog text story by Hazel Adair and Peter Ling; illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

107 Hot Savouries recipe by UNKNOWN (uncredited); photographs by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

110 UNTITLED endpaper; illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited), photographs by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

Approaching an annual based on a soap opera is a tough enough proposition as it is - one is required to have enough familiarity with the series to comprehend references and allusions sprinkled throughout - though when dealing with an annual based on a soap opera which, by and large, doesn't exist anymore in the archives, problems are exacerbated. The BBC only has a handful of episodes in its archive, and is unlikely to ever broadcast them again, leaving this publication to succeed or fail as a stand-alone title.

A solitary edition for the short-lived soap, which ceased broadcasting in the mid-sixties. The cover captures, to some degree, a sense of the series appearance, with more than a hint of inspiration from US soaps seeping through. I've no idea who any of these people are, which makes it difficult to determine the fidelity of the stories.

There's an article on the series' music (with singles to track down for avid collectors), and recipes for adventurous readers to attempt.

If anyone knows more about the series, and can explain why this exists, I would love to know. As a curio from a bygone age, this holds a great deal of interest, but shorn of contemporary reference with which to assess the material on offer it remains a tantalising glimpse into a forgotten piece of television history.

Jimbo and the Jet Set Annual 1987

[1986] Annual. Original price £3.50.
64 pages. Full colour contents.
Grandreams Ltd.

Based on the animated BBC television series.

Cover by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

ISBN-10: 0862273870.

Contents:

 5 Contents Page

 6 Meet The Gang character bios.

 8 The Chief Takes Off w: Peter Maddocks; a: Peter Maddocks & Clive Dawson, colouring by Lorraine Smith.

14 Make Your Own Jimbo cut-out feature by Barry Macey.

16 Re-Fuel Jimbo maze by Barry Macey.

17 Spot the Difference by Barry Macey.

18 Jimbo and the UFO text story by Peter Maddocks.

24 Fly Jimbo to Australia 'snakes & ladders' board game.

26 Jimbo and the Whale text story by Peter Maddocks.

32 Nutty Aircraft illustrated feature by Barry Macey.

34 The Great Air Race w: Peter Maddocks; a: Peter Maddocks & Clive Dawson, colouring Lorraine Smith.

41 Henry Helicopter's Information Page fact page by Peter Maddocks.

42 Colouring Pages

44 Dot-To-Dot

45 Who Goes Where? maze by Barry Macey.

46 Copy the Picture a: UNKNOWN (uncredited)

48 Love is in the Air w: Peter Maddocks; a: Peter Maddocks & Clive Dawson, colouring by Lorraine Smith.

55 Colouring Page map puzzle by Barry Macey.

56 Which Goes Where?

58 Jimbo's Puzzle Page by Barry Macey.

59 Find the 'Plane color-in puzzle by Barry Macey.

60 Answer Pages

Contributions from Clive Dawson, Peter Maddocks, Lorraine Smith & Barry Macey.

Despite not having been aware of the show upon which this annual is based, it turns out to be quite an interesting read. The strips are bright and attractive, and should be entertaining enough for their intended audience. While the stories are simple enough to keep younger readers amused, there are themes and elements that appeal to me, so should hold a wide audience. The lack of specific credits is a really annoying slip, given that so much is done right, but it is a minor niggle given that numerous similar publications neglect attribution entirely.

The single, entirely subjective, issue which keeps this from being truly outstanding is the repetition of feature elements. With two mazes and two coloring features (plus a color-in puzzle), this could so easily feel less like an introduction to - or expansion of - the television series, and more like an afterthought tie-in. The annual largely avoids this through the extensive fiction elements which intersperse the features, adding a great deal of charm to proceedings.

It is surprising how much I love this, given the lack of prior exposure to the franchise. I can't say it is quite enough to convince me to hunt down episodes of the television series, though if the standard of writing is on a par with the tales presented here I certainly won't be changing channels if it comes on.

A superb, albeit extremely unusual, annual.

Doctor Who Weekly #4

07 Nov 1979. Cover price 12p.
28 pages. B&W contents.
Marvel Comics Ltd.

Edited by Dez Skinn.

Photo cover (uncredited).

Free transfers.

Contents:

 2 A Letter from the Doctor text feature by Dez Skinn (uncredited).

 3 Doctor Who and the Iron Legion, part four, w: Pat Mills & John Wagner; a: Dave Gibbons.

 7 Crazy Caption 4 competition; photograph (uncredited).

 8 Starting Next Week in Issue Five of... Doctor Who Weekly preview of Throwback strip; a: Paul Neary.

 9 The Monsters of Doctor Who The Yeti - Robot Pawns Controlled from Space text feature by Gordon Blows (uncredited); photographs (uncredited).

12 Planet Puzzle Answer (quarter page) / Another S-F Winner from Marvel in-house advertisement for Star Wars Weekly.

13 Tales from the TARDIS War of the Worlds, part four, w: Chris Claremont, based on the novel by H.G. Wells; p: Yong Montano; i: Dino Castrillo, lettering by Pat Condoy.

r: Marvel Classic Comics (Marvel) #14 (1976).

18 The Dead Planet text feature compiled by Jeremy Bentham; photographs (uncredited).

22 Doctor Who Photo-File Tom Baker fact-file (uncredited); photograph (uncredited).

23 The Return of the Daleks, part four, w: Steve Moore; p: Paul Neary, i: David Lloyd.

27 Doctor Who and the Turgids advertisement for Doctor Who Radio from Shortman Trading Company Ltd. w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

28 UNTITLED Tom Baker pin-up; photograph (uncredited).

The Doctor's letter reminds readers not to play with fireworks, noting that they are still explosives despite their packaging and public perception. It is a message which can't be repeated enough, as even all these years later there are still horror stories of needless accidents being reported - such public safety notices have largely fallen out of favour, and these remnants from a time before social media are really evocative.

The Imperial Air-Galley enters the Temple of the Gods, an alien space-ship, and the Doctor convinces Morris to help his escape - which Morris is more than happy to do, given that he hasn't made an escape attempt for a couple of weeks. The Alien Guard, protectors of the temple, rush to prevent the escape of the prisoners. Managing to avoid recapture, the Doctor meets Vesuvius, the oldest robot in Rome. After performing minor repairs on Vesuvius, the Doctor asks where he can find the Gods - and realises that the Romans have been worshiping the Malevilus, most terrible of alien races.

Aliens who take the form of statues? Shades of the Weeping Angels raise this beyond any quibbles regarding the other-dimensional nature of the Romans. Morris is a great character, who really lightens the strip, as well as being oddly likable.

Although interesting, the Yeti aren't quite as memorable - or terrifying - as the Great Intelligence, who really should have formed the focus of the feature. As a history of the robots, however, it is a fine example of the recaps making the threats seem more credible than the episodes managed. The main drawback to the Yeti is their resemblance to Wombles, which is a complete drama-killer. How are the furry, rotund litter-pickers meant to scare when they are so damn cute?

I wouldn't say no to a pet Yeti.

I'll name him George. And I'll hug him, and pet him, and squeeze him...

War of the Worlds is one of the main foundation stones of alien invasions in popular culture, with some of the most dramatic scenes of devastation to focus on such an unlikely location. It should be told as the epic it is, and have at least one or two compelling, memorable images on every page. It should matter. While the adaptation is fine, it isn't exceptional. If there's one word which encapsulates the strip, that word would be "adequate".

The designs of the tripods owe much to the film adaptation, which overwhelms any positive artistic choices. Such a disappointment.

Continuing the recap of The Dead Planet, the same handful of images which always get published are, quelle surprise, dusted off and printed onece more. Are the choices of photographic record for the first doctor so limited that we never get new (or at least unpublished) material? Surely someone was a bit snap-happy on set, and there remains, somewhere, a few pieces we haven't seen dozens of times. Which isn't a complaint aimed at Doctor Who Weekly in specific, but all coverage of the first Doctor.

After 800 years, the Daleks have returned to the planet Anhaut, seeking revenge for their former defeat. Movie producer Glax and his star, Hok Nepo, have found the weapon chamber of the ancient General Nor-Din... Only to have its contents destroyed by the Dalek agent, Kuay, before they could learn its secret...

Prepared to kill everyone, and destroy everything, in their path, the Daleks approach the pyramid. Seemingly trapped, and destined to die in the pyramid, Kuay tells Glax that the Daleks' hold on her ended when she touched a crystal helmet - a device which rapidly ages the user. Hok takes the helmet from Kuay, though he cannot get it to work. Knowing her Dalek implants will enable use of the device, Kuay prepares to sacrifice herself to end the menace once and for all.

As endings go, Return of the Daleks pulls out all the stops.

While I'm going to miss Glax, his transformation from amoral exploitation producer to (albeit reluctant) hero has been a great way to expand the confines of the series. The history of the Daleks outside of strict continuity had already produced a few brilliant stories, and if they were to break free of the series, to invade television screens on their own, this strip would have to be considered as an inspiration.

#03

Doctor Who Weekly

#05

Red Dwarf Magazine

Mar 1992 - Jan 1994 (23 issues)
Fleetway Editions

Based on the BBC television series.

vol.1

Mar 1992 - Apr 1993 (14 issues)

01 (Mar 1992; 40 pages, cover price £1.50) The End adaptation begins. Interviews, puzzles, pin-ups and series 5 preview. Painted cover by Jon Rushby.

02 (Apr 1992) Free cover-mounted 'Smeg Head' badge. Series 3 episode guide.

03 (May 1992) Title becomes Red Dwarf Smegazine. Free cover-mounted postcard. Series 1 episode guide.

04 (Jun 1992) 'Smoke Me A Kipper, I'll Be Back For Breakfast' badge. Mutinous Pursuits strip. Future Echoes adaptation begin. Series 4 episode guide.

05 (Jul 1992) Series 2 episode guide. Ace Rimmer: Space Adventurer strip.

06 (Aug 1992) Free cover-mounted badge. The Geap strip. Series 5 episode guide.

07 (Sep 1992) Fashion Victims strip.

08 (Oct 1992) Androids strips by Kev Sutherland begin. The Amusing Misadventures of Mr. Flibble and Ace of the Rovers strips.

09 (Nov 1992) Free full-color poster. Flashback strip. In Living Memory begins.

10 (Dec 1992) Jake Bullet strip begins. Red Dwarf USA strip.

11 (Jan 1993) Wetware and The Inquisitor strips.

12 (Feb 1993) Evolution and The Skutters strips. Smeggo! strip advert.

13 (Mar 1993) Space Monkeys and The Shadow Time strips.

14 (Apr 1993) Duane Dibbley begins. The Cantebelis Tales, Mr. Flibble Gets P%@*ed!, and Ace of Black Hearts strips.

vol.2

May 1993 - Jan 1994 (9 issues)

01 (May 1993; 48 pages) Free cover-mounted postcards. Lister the God begins. Super-Ace strip. Androids and Jake Bullet strips continue.

02 (Jun 1993) Free cover-mounted postcards. Greetings from Gelfworld strip.

03 (Jul 1993) Mr. Flibble Goes Asset-Stripping strip. Mimas Crossing begins.

04 (Aug 1993) Time After Time and A Day in the Life of a Bogbot strips. Cred Dwarf begins.

05 (Sep 1993) Dead Man's Bluff and Tomorrow Trouble strips.

06 (Oct 1993; cover price becomes £1.60) Free cover-mounted stickers. Home of Lost Causes and new Jake Bullet strip begins.

07 (Nov 1993) Free Starbug Pilot's Kit (keyring). Young Flibble begins. Psy-Moon strip.

08 (Dec 1993) The Scoop and A.J. Rimmer, P.M. strips.

09 (Jan 1994; 64 pages, cover price becomes £2.15) Heady Metal, Cred Dwarf, Cat and Dog, The Aftering and Dwarf Eager strips. Contains material intended for following issues.

Robin Hood Adventures

10 Oct 2007 - 03 Jan 2008 (5 issues)
BBC Magazines

01 (10 Oct 2007)

02 (24 Oct 2007)

03 (07 Nov 2007)

04 (05 Dec 2007)

05 (03 Jan 2008)

Wallace & Gromit Books

Paperbacks:

Wallace and Gromit in The Wrong Trousers by Nick Park. (BBC Children's Books; 1994) ISBN-10: 0563403853.

Wallace and Gromit's Activity Book by Nick Park. (BBC Books; 1995) ISBN-10: 0563404159.

Wallace and Gromit (BBC Children's Books; 1996) ISBN-10: 0563380101.

Wallace and Gromit in Nick Park's A Close Shave by Nick Park. (BBC Children's Books; 1996) ISBN-10: 056340406X.

Wallace and Gromit Cheese Lover's Yearbook by Geoff Tibballs. (BBC Children's Books; 1997) ISBN-10: 0563380470.

Wallace and Gromit The Lost Slipper and The Curse of the Ramsbottoms by Tristan Davies & Nick Newman. (Hodder & Stoughton; 1998) ISBN-10: 0340696567.

Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out illustrated by Bill Kerwin. (BBC Children's Books; 1999) ISBN-10: 056338008X.

Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit novelization by Penny Worms. (Puffin; 2005) ISBN-10: 0141318864.

Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit (Puffin; 2005) ISBN-10: 0141318899.

Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit - the Monstrously Scary Joke Book by Amanda Li. (Puffin; 2005) ISBN-13: 9780141318875.

Wallace and Gromit The Dog Diaries by Richard Dungworth. (Puffin; 2005) ISBN-10: 0141318880.

Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death novelization by Penny Worms, based on the screenplay by Nick Park & Bob Barker. (Egmont; 2008) ISBN-13: 9781405244466.

Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death Joke Book by Penny Worms. (Egmont; 2008) ISBN-13: 9781405244473.

Hardbacks:

Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave Storyboard Collection edited by Brian Sibley. (BBC Books; 1997) ISBN-10: 0563380586.

Wallace and Gromit and the Lost Slipper by Tristan Davies; illustrated by Nick Newman. (Hodder & Stoughton; 1997) ISBN-10: 0340696559.

Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave Pop-Up Book (BBC Worldwide; 1998) ISBN-10: 0563380438.

Wallace and Gromit: Anoraknophobia by Tristan Davies & Nick Newman. (Hodder & Stoughton; 1999) ISBN-10: 0340728345.

Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers by Brian Sibley. (BBC Children's Books; 1998) ISBN-10: 0563380845.

Wallace and Gromit Crackers in Space by Tristan Davies & Nick Newman. (Hodder & Stoughton; 1999) ISBN-10: 0340712899.

Wallace and Gromit Catch of the Day by Ian Rimmer, from a story by Simon Furman & Katy Wild; illustrated by Jimmy Hansen. (Titan; 2002) ISBN-13: 1840234954.

Wallace and Gromit's Christmas Crackers (Boxtree; 2002) ISBN-10: 0752215116.

Wallace and Gromit's Wacky World of Knowledge by Neil Morris & Steve Parker. (Chrysalis Children's Books) ISBN-10: 1843470241.

Wallace and Gromit's Highway Code (Boxtree; 2003) ISBN-10: 075221571X.

Wallace and Gromit: Welcome to West Wallaby Street by Rona Selby. (Pocket Books; 2003) ISBN-10: 0743467833.

Wallace and Gromit The Whippet Vanishes by Ian Rimmer; illustrated by Jimmy Hansen. (Titan Books; 2004) ISBN-10: 1840234970.

Aardman Presents the World of Wallace & Gromit by Andy Lane. (Boxtree; 2004) ISBN-10: 0752215582.

Wallace and Gromit The Bootiful Game by Ian Rimmer. (Titan; 2005) ISBN-10: 1840239433.

The Art of Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit by Andy Lane. (Titan; 2005) ISBN-10: 1845761367.

Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit by Glenn Dakin. (Dorling Kindersley; 2005) ISBN-10: 1405310197.

Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit (Ladybird; 2005) ISBN-10: 1844227049.

Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit - Anti-Pesto Journal (Ladybird; 2005) ISBN-10: 1844227243.

Wallace and Gromit Gromit's Guide to Gardening (Ladybird; 2005) ISBN-10: 1844227227.

Wallace and Gromit A Pier Too Far by Dan Abnett. (Titan Books; 2005) ISBN-10: 1840239530.

Wallace and Gromit Weight Loss with Wallace (Ladybird; 2005) ISBN-10: 1844227219.

Wallace and Gromit Plots in Space by Dan Abnett & Jimmy Hansen. (Titan; 2007) ISBN-13: 9781845763626.

Wallace and Gromit Grand Adventures & Glorious Inventions: the Scrapbook of an Inventor and his Dog by Penny Worms. (Carlton Books; 2008) ISBN-13: 9781847322692.

Wallace and Gromit It Takes Two (Egmont; 2008) ISBN-13: 9781405238106.

Wallace and Gromit It's a Dog's Life (Egmont; 2008) ISBN: 13: 9781405238113.

The Art of Wallace and Gromit by Beth Harwood; foreword by Nick Park. (Egmont; 2009) ISBN-013: 9781405247894.

Wallace & Gromit in A Grand Day Out by Nick Park; illustrated by David Lopez. (Egmont; 2009) ISBN--13: 9781405245326.

Wallace and Gromit Baker's Dozen Cook Book: A Matter of Loaf and Death - 13 Ravishing Recipes (Egmont; 2009) ISBN-13: 9781405245821.

Wallace and Gromit: Cracking Contraptions Manual by Derek Smith, from designs by Lee Parsons; illustrated by Graham Bleathman. (Haynes; 2010) ISBN-13: 9781844259588.

Wallace and Gromit Grand Grub (Egmont; 2009) ISBN-13: 9781405244480.

Wallace and Gromit in The Wrong Trousers by Nick Park; illustrated by Bill Kerwin. (Egmont; 2010) ISBN-13: 9781405252386.

Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention by Penny Worms. (HarperCollins Children's; 2010) ISBN-13: 9780007382187.

Wallace and Gromit: Cracking Contraptions Manual 2 by Derek Smith, from designs by Lee Parsons; illustrated by Graham Bleathman. (Haynes; 2011) ISBN-13: 9780857331472.

My Little Wallace and Gromit books:

Furry Gromit (Simon & Schuster; 2004) ISBN-10: 0743489268.

Gromit's Busy Day (Simon & Schuster; 2004) ISBN-10: 0743489306.

Good Night Gromit (Simon & Schuster; 2005) ISBN-10: 0743489292.

TV Fun: The Apprentice

BBC One

The Apprentice logo. © BBC / Freemantle Media

BT Vision:         851
Freeview HD:       101
Freesat HD:        108
Sky HD / YouView:  143
Virgin Media:      108

Series 14

Fremantle Media (Paul Broadbent, Paula Fasht)

02. Comics (Mark Halliley (narration); Alan Sugar, Karren Brady, Claude Littner, Claudine Collins, Linda Plant, Mike Soutar; contestants: Camilla Ainsworth, David Alden, Frank Brooks, Tom Bunday, Sarah Byrne, Kayode Damali, Daniel Elahi, Jackie Fast, Alex Finn, Sian Gabbidon, Khadija Kalifa, Jasmine Kundra, Sarah Ann Magson, Rick Monk, Kurran Pooni, Sabrina Stocker)

Lord Sugar summons the candidates to the House of Illustration, the UK's only gallery dedicated to graphic art. On arrival, the teams are greeted by their business superhero as they've never seen him before. Via augmented-reality technology, Lord Sugar reveals that the candidates are to create a brand new comic aimed at eight- to 12-year-olds. They need to invent a new comic name, main character and original story as well as design a dynamic front cover using cutting-edge AR.

With comics printed overnight, they need to pitch to leading industry figures to secure orders. The task balances creative flair with productive pitching, and the team that forgets either could face a graphic showdown in the boardroom.

b: 10 Oct 2018.

(Sypnosis from BBC website)

The Apprentice on the BBC website.

While I'm not anticipating much from a creative point of view, this should prove interesting. How difficult is it to craft an entirely new comic, aimed at a younger age range, without falling back on tried and tested clichés? We will, no doubt, discover the answer soon enough. The inclusion of VR is intriguing, as it has (thus far) been an area which hasn't had more than a passing influence on the direction of comics as a whole - how much more entertaining would comics be for youngsters if, embedded at several unobstructive points throughout the title, there were triggers which would, when a 'phone is aimed at the comic, provide a 3D image.

Better yet, an animated 3D image.

The Beano has already highlighted the technology (back in March), but crucially didn't have a cover-enhancing element. Imagine a curious (yet reluctant) would-be purchaser, 'phone in hand, glancing at the title - if there is a trigger on the cover, then the curious-minded will aim their 'phone at it to see what happens. If the resultant visual is exciting and intriguing enough, they will most likely purchase the comic just for the novelty. I mean... It isn't as if embracing new ideas is going to lower the sales of a title.